Why FOTA may have a future after all

The recent withdrawals of Ferrari, Red Bull and Sauber from FOTA has left the teams' collective in a weakened state against the commercial and sporting powers that be in Formula 1, but Dieter Rencken doesn't think all is lost, at least not yet

That the 2012 FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar, as (re)confirmed in Delhi on December 7 during the final World Motorsport Council meeting of the year, contains 20 races is no surprise. The sport's commercial rights holder, headed up by Bernie Ecclestone, has long targeted a 20-round calendar and had aimed for that number this year, only for those plans to be derailed by the Arab Spring.

That said, based on the FIA's media release, the calendar could well extend to 21 rounds, for the wording stated somewhat simply: "The 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar was confirmed as previously published", without any further reference. Given that the FIA previously confirmed two vastly differing 2012 calendars – a 21-race schedule on June 3, and thereafter a 20-round listing on 31 August – there were justifiable grounds for confusion.